The minds of parents-to-be are occupied by many topics: labor and childbirth, infant care, nursery colors. Few anticipate the pressure parenthood can put on their marriage and how they’ll feel uncertain, exhausted, overwhelmed, and downright afraid. Now, from the authors of “Fighting for Your Marriage,” comes a book designed specifically to help couples improve their relationships in preparation for parenthood. “Becoming Parents” offers essential advice to new parents on surviving this potentially trying time. It will help you communicate more clearly, better manage conflict, create lasting solutions to problems, identify underlying issues and expectations, and understand how morals and beliefs impact everyday communication.

“Becoming Parents” also delves into the larger issues of commitment, forgiveness, and intimacy, and explores the role of fun and friendship in happy relationships. It even tackles very touchy subjects: who gets up when the baby cries at night, the division of household tasks, and sex-all the stuff of everyday arguments. Through real-life examples and useful exercises in each chapter, the authors help you to better understand yourself and your partner. These are tools to use in your daily conversations, so you can build a happy, loving home for your baby.